Steve Austin

You may not recognize the name Steve Austin without hearing the phrase “Stone Cold” in front of it. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin earned his nickname in the ring as a professional wrestler. In fact, his real name is Steven James Anderson. The name “Steve Austin” emerged from a Memphis booker, Dutch Mantell, during the merger of the World Class and the Continental Wrestling Association into the United States Wrestling Association. Nevertheless, Austin made a name for himself as soon as he decided to pursue wrestling as his career. During his early career with WCW (World Championship Wrestling), Austin won the 1993 World Tag Team Championship with partner “Flyin’ Brian” and also won the 1993 WCW United States Championship. After tearing his bicep the following year while wrestling in Japan, Austin left the WCW and went on to sign with the WWF in 1995. Throughout his four years in the WWF, he won four federation championships among many other titles. In his second to last year with the WWF, Austin made over $1 million in salary alone, as his performance and popularity were thriving. Austin raised WWF television ratings tremendously and to this day, he is considered one of the most popular WWF wrestlers. Also serving as an American actor and producer after retiring from wrestling, Austin went on to star in the TV show Nash Bridges and films The Longest Yard and The Condemed.